What does best practice citizen participation look like?
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 20th March 2024.
The International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (IOPD) is asking this question through the annual Best Practice in Citizen Participation Award, which aims to recognise participatory and deliberative activity.
Last year Rennes in France won for its 'European Citizens' Initiative: "Let's ask Europe to give migrants a decent welcome”. The initiative was "recognised for the articulation of the local with the (supra)national, for addressing a critical issue as the reception of migrants and for seeking the mobilisation of the communities, especially the youth."
In 2022, Manchester took the top prize for work using legislative theatre to engage community members around addressing barriers in homelessness and housing services, being "the first time legislative theatre has been used on a regional level to inform a policy strategy with such a broad scope".
Nominations close on 15 May for this chance to recognise successful experiences and public policies around citizen participation, community engagement, democratic innovation, public deliberation, and open government.
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